Railway frog and crossing



Sept. 23, 1947.. D, W, ANDERSON 2,427,830

RAILWAY FROG AND cRssING Filed'M'ay 26, 1944 s sheets-sheet 1 NQWM/ uN @uw l a andaoj www Sept. 23, 1947. I

D. W. ANDERSON RAILWAY FROG AND CROSSING Filed May `26, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l@ N RMRQQM Sept. 23, 1947. D. w. ANDERSON RAILWAY FROG AND CROSSING y Filed May 26, 1944 s sheets-sheet 5 Swim/Mofa az/z'd wandersa,

Patented Sept. 23, 1947 RAILWAY FROG AND CROSSING David W. Anderson, Chicago, Ill., assigner to Pettibone Mulliken Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application May 26, 1944, Serial No. 537,502

4 Claims.

This invention relates to depth hardened cast railway structures such as frogs and crossings and the like.

Cast frogs are of two types, the one type comprising a cast member or members of box-like section, preferably of manganese alloy steel and having an open Abottom and adapted to be bounded by rolled rail. This type of construction is known in the trade as rail-bound insert constructions. In the other type the entire frog may be of manganese alloy steel, also of boxlike section. This type of construction is known as solid construction. The present invention is adapted for both of such types.

The invention relates particularly to frog structures cast from manganese alloy steel and the like. To compensate for the tendency of the metal to flow and be pounded down too low in the areas receiving the most punishment under heavy traic, it has been known to provide raised pads of manganese steel alloy on these areas, cast integrally with the structure, mechanically hammer these areas down to a level just above the upper level of the frog and then grind the pads to the upper surface level of the frog before the frog is finally installed in service. Not only must some suitable support be provided during the hammering, but the metal during casting must be evenly distributed to avoid shrinkage cavities and produce a homogeneous structure. Also, the frog must be properly supported in operation to prevent fatigue cracking from repeated exing under passing trains. The present invention has for its principal object the attainmentv of these ends.

It is a further object of the invention to provide such a lfrog which, while amply strong and suitable for these purposes, is relatively light in weight.

These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following description and claims when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the I invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in cross section; Y

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of an end frog constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig, 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig.3;

Fig. 5 is a top plan View of a center frog structure constructed in accordance with the invention, and

Fig. 6 is a section taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a rail bound insert construction of frog, the insert being generally indicated by the reference numeral I0. This insert is of novel construction as will be described, but like inserts heretofore known, it connects with the rails l l and l2 at one end and with rails I3 and lli at the other. Filler members, such as l5 are disposed on the outside of these rails. Rolled rail sections I6 and Il are disposed on each side of the insert and are then fianged outwardly to abut the outer edges of the filler members l5. In a known manner, the rolled rail sections i6 and ll, the filler members I5 and the insert l!! are all bound together as a unit by means of the bolts i8 and nuts I9, the bolts passing through aligned apertures in these members.

The whole is disposed on a base plate 20 to which the rolled rail sections are secured by spikes (not shown) which pass through spike openings 2l.

The insert Iii has upstanding side walls 22 and 23 which are bridged by an upper or top wall 24 provided with intersecting flangeways 25 and 26. The resulting box-like structure is open at the bottom.

The interior of the insert Hl is provided with a plurality of strengthening webs. Several of such webs 21 are shown in cross section in Fig. 2. They are thicker at their upper portions and depend from the undersurface of the upper top wall 24. This thicker portion is provided with 1 a cylindrical opening 28 which extends from one end of the web to the other. It is these openings 28 through which the bolts i8 extend when the fro-g is assembled.

.The interior of the insert also is provided with several vertical strengthening webs 29, 30, 3! and 32 which are parallel respectively to the side walls I5 and Il and which extend between the strengthening webs 2l.

The strengthening webs 29, 30, 3l and `32 eX- tend from the plane of the lower edges of the side walls upwardly to a plane spaced about an inch from the undersurface of the upper top wal124.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 there is another transverse web 33 which extends from the plane of the lower edges of the side walls upwardly to a plane spaced from the top undersurface about an inch.

Finally, there rare a number of steel plates 34, 35, 35, 3l and 38 disposed toll the spaces between the upper edges of the webs and the undersurface of the top 24. The insert I0, excluding these plates, is cast as a single integral member, preferably of manganese steel alloy, and the plates 34, 35, 36, 3l and 38 are then inserted in the spaces as described. The plates are preferably of ordinary carbon steel. They may be Welded at several points to the casting or continuously along their edges.

In accordance with one object of the invention, the plates are disposed beneath those areas of the top which are subjected to heavy pounding by passing trains. The upper surfaces of these areas adjacent the flangeways are integrally cast with pads so that the structure initially has raised pad portions, which, before installation of the frog, are depth hardened, that is, are hammered down until they extend only about oneeighth of an inch above the plane of the upper surface of the remainder of the top and then ground to the level of the top.

It will be noted that the casting has no wall which is of such excessive thickness as to result in shrinkage cavities or the like. Uniform metal of a homogeneous nature is therefore present throughout.

The hammering or depth hardening may be accomplished by mechanical hammering. The web and plate construction of the present application, however, olers adequate support during the hammering.

The plates may be removed before installation or they may remain as a part of the insert when the latter is installed and used.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the application of the invention to a frog of solid cast construction. Here, the frog is also of box-like structure with upstanding side Walls 46, 4|, 42 and 43, a top wall 39 provided on its upper surfaces with intersecting flangeways 44 and 45.

Strengthening web structures are provided. One of these 46 extends from the side wall 42 inwardly to a point adjacent the langeway 44 and then extends along the line of the flanges/ay 44 and nally joins with the web 47. The web 4l extends inwardly from the side wall 46 and after joining with the web 46, continues inwardly further as at 48 so as to be disposed beneath the point 49 of the frog.

Another web 50 extends inwardly from the side n wall 40 so as to be 'disposed beneath the other point l of the frog. This web 56 has a branch 52 which runs along the line of the angeway 45 to a point adjacent but spaced from the web 46.

Finally, a web 53 extends inwardly from side wall 42 and then turns to run along the line of angeway 45 to a point adjacent but spaced from the web 46.

All of these webs are vertical in cross section and extend in height from the plane of the lower edges of the side walls of the frog, upwardly toward, but spaced from, the undersurface of the top wall 39.

In the space between the upper surface of web 46 and the undersurface of the top wall 39 is disposed a steel block 54. Where the web 46 runs along the line of the langeway 44 is a steel plate 55.

Similar steel blocks 56, 51 and 58 are disposed in the spaces between the webs and the undersurface of the top wall as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3.

Two Steel plates 6I and 62, similar to, but not as long as plate 55, are disposed respectively between the upper edges of webs 53 and 50 and the undersurface of the top wall 39. These plates 6I and 62 extend inwardly on the webs 53 and 50 to points adjacent but spaced from the plate 55.

As in the previous embodiment, the frog on its upper surface at the tread or impact points may be provided when cast with a raised pad Before the frog is ready for installation the plates and blocks are inserted and welded in place and the frog is depth hardened. In other words, it is subjected to hammer action until the pads are pounded down to a level just a fraction of an inch above the normal level of the upper surface, after which they are ground to the normal level.

It will be noted that during such depth hardening, the plates and blocks offer support at the proper points. The plates and blocks may preferably be left in the positions illustrated when the frog is installed in a track section, although if desired they can iirst be removed.

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6 illustrates the application of the invention to an end frog construction. In these views the webs are indicated by reference numerals 63, 64, 65 and 6l. Web 63 extends on an arc line from one side wall of the casting to the other but is broken at an intermediate point. The web 63 is joined with webs 64 and 65 which in turn merge beneath the apex of the point. Webs 66 and 61 each eX- tend from a side wall inwardly to the under tread surface, thence along the line of that angeway to the point of juncture with the other flangeway and finally for a short distance along the line of said other flangeway. As will be noted in Fig. 5, they are hook-shaped in plan.

The webs, as previously, are vertical and their upper edges are spaced from the undersurface of the top of the frog. In these spaces blocks 68, 69 and 'I0 and plates '12, 13, I4 and 15 are disposed. These blocks and plates may be welded in position in the same manner described in connection with the previous embodiments. It will again be noted that the blocks and plates are positioned to provide proper support when the frog is "depth hardened by pounding down the pads Such pa'ds are originally formed on the upper surface of the frog at the areas adjacent the intersection of the under tread surface when the frog is cast.

In all of the embodiments the frog proper is preferably of a cast manganese alloy cast with the webs cast as an integral unit, after which the steel blocks and plates are inserted and preferably welded to secure them in place. As stated, they may be left in place as a Dart of the installed frog or they may be removed after depth hardening and before installation.

Other modifications of the invention will now suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. It should be apparent that the invention is also applicable to crossing and other structures of shell or box-like section. and provided with raised pad portions at the tread or impact areas which pad portions are to be depth hardened.

The embodiments illustrated and described herein are examples only and the invention is only limited as indicated in the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. A railway track structure for insertion in a section of track, said structure comprising an integrally cast manganese alloy steel shell-like member having upstanding side walls and a top portion joining said side walls, said top portion having wheel engaging surfaces, the tread and impact areas of said top portion having integrally cast raised pad portions mechanically hammered to substantially the normal level of the top, at least one integrally cast web extending inwardly from a side wall, the lower edge of said web being in the plane of the lower edges of said side walls and the upper edge of said web beneath a tread or impact area of said top portion being spaced from the under surface of said top portion, and a steel insert member disposed in the space between said web and the undersurface of said top portion beneath a tread or impact portion, whereby substantial support is provided for the structure during mechanical hammering of said raised pad portions.

2. A railway frog comprising an integrally cast manganese alloy steel shell-like member having upstanding side walls and a top portion bridging said side walls, said top portion having intersecting Wheel engaging flangeways, the tread and impact areas of said top portion having integrally cast raised pad portions, depth hardened to substantially the normal upper level of the frog, said member also having integrally cast webs eX- tending inwardly from the side walls to points beneath said raised pad portions, the lower edges of said webs being in the plane of the lower edges of the side walls and the upper edges of said webs beneath said raised pad portions being spaced from the under surface of said top portion, and steel insert members positioned in the spaces between said webs and the under surface of said top portion, whereby the frog is substantially supported during depth hardening.

3. A railway frog comprising an integrally cast manganese alloy steel shell-like member having upstanding side walls and a top portion bridging said side walls, said top portion having intersecting wheel engaging angeways, the tread and impact areas of said top portion having integrally cast raised pad portions, depth hardened to substantially the normal upper level of the frog, said member also having integrally cast webs eX- tending inwardly from the side walls to points beneath said raised pad portions, the lower edges of said webs being in the plane of the lower edges of the side walls and the upper edges of said webs beneath said raised pad portions being spaced from the under surface of said top portion, the spaces between the upper edges of said webs and the undersurface of said top portion beneath said tread or impact areas being disposed to receive steel insert members, whereby the frog may be substantially supported during the depth hardening.

4. A railway frog comprising an integrally cast manganese alloy steel shell-like member having upstanding side walls and a top portion bridging said side walls, said top portion having intersecting wheel engaging flangeways, the tread and impact areas of said top portion having integrally cast raised pad portions, depth hardened to substantially the normal upper level of the frog, said member alsohaving integrally cast webs extending inwardly from the side walls to points beneath said raised pad portions, the lower edges of said webs being in the lplane of the lower edges of the side walls and the upper edges of said webs beneath said raised pad portions being spaced from the under surface of said top portion, and steel insert members welded in the spaces between said Webs and the under surface of said top portion, whereby the frog is substantially supported during depth hardening.

DAVID W. ANDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 15,823 Breed Apr. 29, 1924 935,205 Hitchcock Sept, 28, 1909 2,218,603 Cook et al. Oct. 22, 1940 2,354,880 Ratkowski Aug. 1, 1944 

